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BOARD OF INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION, KARACHI INTERMEDIATE

EXAMINATION MODEL PAPER-2025 (ACCORDING TO REDUCED SYLLABUS –
2025)

Computer science Paper I

Max. Marks: 75 (Science General & Humanities Groups – Regular) Time: 3 hour

SECTION ‘A’ (MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS) – (M.C.Qs.) Marks: 8

1. Choose the correct answer

i) The first computer that used vacuum tubes was:

ENIAC

ii) The first microprocessor name was:

Intel 4004

iii) The generation of computer is classified:

by the device used in memory and processor

iv) The Dot Matrix is a type of:

Printer

v) A type of memory that contains routine program that supports system hardware:
BIOS

vi) A port which transmits 8 bits at a time is called:

Parallel Port

vii) An operation whereby a new word is placed into a particular memory location is called:
a write operation

viii) A connection between similar networks is:

Bridge

ix) This is a Scanning device:

Bar code Reader

x) This is the fastest data communication medium:

Fiber optic cable

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xi) It is the logical gate that produces 1 output when all its inputs are set to 1:
AND

xii) A physical or logical arrangement of computers that communicate with each other is called:
Topology

xiii) Distributive Law X.(Y+Z)=:

(X.Y) + (X.Z)

xiv) A computer program that translates one statement of program instructions at a time into
machine language is called:
Interpreter

xv) A computer cannot ‘boot’ if it does not have:

Operating System

SECTION ‘B’ (SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS) (30 Marks)

2. Answer any ten part questions. Each part question carries equal marks.

i) Why is system software necessary for any computer system? System software is essential
because it manages hardware resources and provides an environment for running application
software. It ensures smooth communication between hardware and software, facilitating tasks
like memory management, input/output operations, and execution of programs. Without system
software, a computer would be unable to function effectively.

ii) What do a compiler and interpreter do?

• Compiler: A compiler translates the entire source code of a program into machine code
(or intermediate code) all at once, creating an executable file that can be run
independently.
• Interpreter: An interpreter translates source code into machine code line-by-line,
executing the instructions directly without creating an intermediary file. It is slower than
a compiler but easier to debug.

iii) Name any three full-duplex devices.

• Telephone
• Modem
• Network cards (Ethernet)

iv) Why should RAM be a temporary storage? RAM (Random Access Memory) is a volatile
memory, meaning it loses all stored data when the power is turned off. It is used as temporary

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storage because it is fast and facilitates quick access to data required by the CPU, but it is not
intended for long-term data storage.

v) Distinguish between Serial Port and Parallel Port.

• Serial Port: Transfers data one bit at a time over a single channel. It is slower but can
transmit data over longer distances.
• Parallel Port: Transfers multiple bits of data simultaneously across multiple channels. It
is faster than serial ports for short distances but not suitable for long-distance
transmission.

vi) Define Network protocols. Name any three. Network protocols are sets of rules that
determine how data is transmitted and received across a network. They ensure the
communication between devices follows a structured and standardized format. Three examples
of network protocols are:

• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
• TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

vii) What is the main difference between Router and Gateway?

• Router: A router directs data packets between different networks, typically within the
same network protocol.
• Gateway: A gateway acts as a bridge between two different networks with different
protocols, performing protocol conversion if necessary.

viii) What do you mean by Broadcasting? Broadcasting is the process of sending data or
messages to all devices on a network or to all devices within a particular network segment. In
computer networks, broadcasting means sending information to all devices on the network,
rather than a specific device.

ix) How can you define Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)? A Metropolitan Area Network
(MAN) is a large network that spans a city or large campus. It is larger than a Local Area
Network (LAN) but smaller than a Wide Area Network (WAN), typically used to connect
multiple LANs within a specific geographic area.

x) Define IoT. Name any three devices. T

he Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of interconnected devices that communicate
and exchange data over the internet. These devices often include sensors or actuators that allow
them to collect and respond to data. Three examples of IoT devices:

• Smart thermostat
• Wearable fitness tracker
• Smart refrigerator

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xi) What is the main logical difference between an AND gate and an OR gate?

• AND gate: The output is true (1) only if both inputs are true (1). If any input is false (0),
the output is false (0).
• OR gate: The output is true (1) if at least one of the inputs is true (1). The output is false
(0) only if both inputs are false (0).

xii) Draw the diagram of the following equation: (A+B)⋅(A+B+C)

Absolutely! Let's break down how to draw the logic diagram for the equation
(A+B).(A'+B') = C, where A' represents the complement (NOT) of A, and B' represents
the complement (NOT) of B.

Logic Diagram
A ---|NOT|--- A' ---|
| | |
B ---|NOT|--- B' ---| OR ---|
| | |
| OR ---| AND --- C
| |
------------------|

xiii) Differentiate between Analog Computer and Digital Computer.

• Analog Computer: An analog computer operates with continuous signals, representing

physical quantities in a continuous manner (e.g., temperature, pressure). They are used
for simulation and scientific computations.
• Digital Computer: A digital computer processes discrete signals, using binary code (0s
and 1s). It is used for a wide range of tasks, including word processing, data analysis, and
multimedia applications.

xiv) Name any three magnetic storage mediums.

• Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

• Magnetic Tape
• Floppy Disk

xv) Convert the following number systems:

1. Binary (1011) to Decimal (Base 10): 10112 = (1 × 23 ) + (0 × 22 ) + (1 × 21 ) +

(1 × 20 ) = 8 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 11

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2. Octal (263) to Decimal (Base 10): 2638 = (2 × 82 ) + (6 × 81 ) + (3 × 80 ) = 128 +

48 + 3 = 179

Decimal (144) to Binary (Base 2): To convert 144 from decimal (base 10) to binary (base 2),
you can use the division-by-2 method

1. 144 ÷ 2 = 72, remainder = 0

2. 72 ÷ 2 = 36, remainder = 0
3. 36 ÷ 2 = 18, remainder = 0
4. 18 ÷ 2 = 9, remainder = 0
5. 9 ÷ 2 = 4, remainder = 1
6. 4 ÷ 2 = 2, remainder = 0
7. 2 ÷ 2 = 1, remainder = 0
8. 1 ÷ 2 = 0, remainder = 1

144₁₀ = 10010000₂

3. Decimal (640) to Octal (Base 8):

To convert 640 from decimal (base 10) to octal (base 8):

640 ÷ 8 = 80, remainder = 0

80 ÷ 8 = 10, remainder = 0

10 ÷ 8 = 1, remainder = 2

1 ÷ 8 = 0, remainder = 1

Reading the remainders from bottom to top:

64010 = 12008

4. Hexadecimal (AB) to Decimal (Base 10): 𝐴𝐵16 = (10 × 161 ) + (11 × 160 ) = 160 +
11 = 17
5. Decimal (784) to Hexadecimal (Base 16): 78410 = 31016784{10} = 310{16}

SECTION ‘C’ (DETAILED-ANSWER QUESTIONS) (30 Marks) Note: Answer any

three questions from this Section. All questions carry equal marks.

3. Describe different types of computers according to its size and speed.

Computers can be categorized by size and speed, ranging from massive, high-performance
machines to tiny, portable devices:

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1.Supercomputers:

• Size: Largest and most powerful computers.

• Speed: Extremely fast, capable of performing trillions of calculations per second

(petaflops and exaflops).2

• Usage: Used for complex scientific simulations, weather forecasting, nuclear

research, and cryptography.3

• Examples: Fugaku (Japan), Summit (USA).4

2.Mainframe Computers:

• Size: Large, powerful computers, but smaller than supercomputers.5

• Speed: Very fast, designed to handle massive amounts of data and support
thousands of users simultaneously.

• Usage: Used by large organizations like banks, insurance companies, and

government agencies for critical applications and data processing.6

• Examples: IBM Z series.

3. Servers:

• Size: Vary in size, from rack-mounted units to large server farms.

• Speed: Designed for high performance and reliability, optimized for specific tasks
like web hosting, database management, and network services.7

• Usage: Provide services to other computers on a network.8

• Examples: Dell PowerEdge, HP ProLiant.

4. Personal Computers (PCs):

• Size: Desktop, laptop, and tablet forms.

• Speed: Varies widely depending on the hardware configuration.

• Usage: Used for general-purpose computing, including word processing, web

browsing, gaming, and multimedia.9

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• Examples: Desktop PCs, laptops, tablets.10

5. Mobile Devices:

• Size: Small, handheld devices.

• Speed: Increasing rapidly, with powerful processors and graphics capabilities.11

• Usage: Used for communication, entertainment, information access, and mobile

applications.

• Examples: Smartphones, smartwatches.12

6. Microcontrollers/Embedded Systems:

• Size: Very small, often integrated into other devices.

• Speed: Varies depending on the application, often optimized for specific tasks.

• Usage: Control specific functions in devices like appliances, automobiles, and

industrial equipment.13

• Examples: Microcontrollers in washing machines, cars, and medical devices.14

4. Define Topology. Explain its types with diagrams.

• Topology: In computer networking, topology refers to the arrangement of computers and
other network devices and how they communicate with each other.15 It describes the
physical or logical layout of a network.

Here are the main types of network topologies:

• Bus Topology:

o All devices are connected to a single cable called a bus.16

o Data is transmitted along the bus, and all devices receive it.17

o Diagram:
o Device 1 --- Device 2 --- Device 3 --- Device 4
o |____________________________________________| (Bus)

o Advantages: Simple and inexpensive.

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o Disadvantages: Single point of failure (the bus), difficult to troubleshoot, limited

scalability.

• Star Topology:

o All devices are connected to a central hub or switch.

o Data is transmitted through the central device.

o Diagram:
o Hub/Switch
o /|\
o / | \
o Device 1 Device 2 Device 3

o Advantages: Easy to troubleshoot, centralized control, less affected by a single

device failure.

o Disadvantages: Central device failure can bring down the entire network, requires
more cabling.

• Ring Topology:

o Devices are connected in a closed loop, forming a ring.

o Data is transmitted in one direction around the ring.

o Diagram:
o Device 1 --- Device 2
o | |
o Device 4 --- Device 3

o Advantages: Relatively simple, data flows in one direction, reducing collisions.

o Disadvantages: Single point of failure (a cable or device), difficult to

troubleshoot.

• Mesh Topology:

o Each device is connected to multiple other devices.

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o Provides redundancy and high reliability.

o Diagram:
o Device 1 --- Device 2
o |\/|
o |/\|
o Device 4 --- Device 3

o Advantages: Highly redundant, fault-tolerant, reliable.

o Disadvantages: Expensive and complex to implement.

• Tree Topology:

o Combines characteristics of bus and star topologies.

o Devices are arranged in a hierarchical structure.

o Diagram:
o Hub/Switch (Root)
o / | \
o / | \
o Hub/Switch Hub/Switch Hub/Switch
o /|\ /|\ /|\
o DDD DDD DDD

o Advantages: Scalable, easy to manage, hierarchical structure.

o Disadvantages: Central hub/switch failure can affect a large portion of the

network.18

5. What are the main differences between Impact Printers and Non-Impact Printers?
Define different types of Impact printers.
• Impact Printers:

o These printers form characters by striking a mechanism against an ink ribbon,

which then impacts the paper.19

o They are generally noisy.

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o They can print multi-part forms.

o Generally have a lower cost per page.

• Non-Impact Printers:
o These printers form characters without physically striking the paper.20

o They are generally quieter.

o They often provide higher-quality output.

o Generally, they are faster than impact printers.

Types of Impact Printers:

• Dot-Matrix Printers:

a. Use a matrix of pins to create characters.

b. Varying print quality based on the number of pins.

c. Commonly used for printing multi-part forms.

• Daisy-Wheel Printers:

a. Use a wheel with pre-formed characters.

b. Produce letter-quality print.

c. Slower than dot-matrix printers.

• Line Printers:

a. Print an entire line at a time.

b. High-speed printing.

c. Used for high-volume printing.

6. Explain different types of communication media used in data communication.

Communication media, also known as transmission media, are the pathways through which data
is transmitted.21 They can be broadly categorized as guided (wired) and unguided (wireless).22
1. Guided Media (Wired):

1. Data signals are confined to a physical path.

2. Twisted-Pair Cable:

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1. Consists of two insulated copper wires twisted together.

2. Used for telephone lines and Ethernet networks.

3. Types: Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) and Shielded Twisted Pair (STP).

3. Coaxial Cable:

1. Consists of a central conductor surrounded by an insulator, a braided

shield, and an outer jacket.

2. Used for cable television and some Ethernet networks.

4. Fiber-Optic Cable:

1. Transmits data as pulses of light through thin strands of glass or plastic.

2. High bandwidth and long-distance transmission.

3. Used for high-speed networks and long-distance communication.

2. Unguided Media (Wireless):

1. Data signals are transmitted through the air.23

2. Radio Waves:

1. Used for radio and television broadcasting, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

3. Microwaves:

1. Used for satellite communication and point-to-point terrestrial

communication.

4. Infrared:

1. Used for short-range communication, such as remote controls.

5. Satellite Communications:
1. Uses satellites orbiting the Earth to transfer data.24

7. What is an Operating System? Explain its functions.

1. Operating System (OS):

1. An operating system is system software that manages computer hardware and

software resources and provides common services for computer programs.2526

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Functions of an Operating System:

1. Resource Management:

1. Manages hardware resources such as the CPU, memory, storage devices, and
peripherals.27

2. Allocates resources to different programs and users.

2. Process Management:
1. Creates, schedules, and terminates processes (programs in execution).28

2. Manages the execution of multiple programs concurrently.

3. Memory Management:

1. Allocates and deallocates memory to programs.

2. Implements virtual memory to allow programs to use more memory than

physically available.

4. Storage Management:

1. Manages file systems and storage devices.

2. Provides functions for creating, deleting, and accessing files.

5. Device Management:

1. Controls and manages peripheral devices such as printers, keyboards, and mice.

2. Uses device drivers to communicate with hardware.29

6. Security:

1. Provides security mechanisms to protect the system from unauthorized access.

2. Manages user accounts and permissions.

7. User Interface:

1. Provides a user interface for interacting with the computer.

2. Types: Graphical User Interface (GUI) and Command-Line Interface (CLI).

8. Networking:

1. Allows computers to communicate across networks.

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2. Manages network protocols.

9. Error Handling:

1. Detects and handles errors that occur during system operation.

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